Burial apparatus



Aug. 1s, 1925. 1,550,127

J. W. TSCHUMPERLIN BURIAL APPARATUS Filed April '2,

WITNESS z Aug. 18.1925. 1,550,127

' J. W. TSCHUMPERLIN BURIAL APPARATUS Filed April v. 1924 2 sheets-shear 2 Josphlf Tsc hamper L n INVENTOR ilatented llllfl DE NRTH DAKTA.

Application filed April 7,

.To all tolto/m, t may concern.:

Be it known that` l, losnrrr lliTiLLLizu 'inclini/Iranian, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Bismarck, :in the county o o'lf Burleigh and State of North Dakota,

have invented new and useful lmprovements in Burial Apparatus, ot' which the :following is a specilication.

The object oi this invention is to provide means of special construction tor receiving a casket at the edge oif grave and moving,l it to position over the lowering,v devices or straps employed 'tor the purpose, thereby7 avoiding,` the necessity ot direct approach, on the part of the bearers, to positions where the Yfooting,1 may be insecure.

A further object is to provide, in connection with a track formed in sections, a plurality of carriers adapted to move along` the track, these devices being structurally independent of each other and adapted for use with caskets ot differentlength.

A. still further object is to provide a carrier with a drop aule which may be 'formed ot plain stock or may have a flat supporting,I surface, suitably covered to provide proper Contact and prevent relative movement between the casket and carriers during,q movement along,l the track.

`With the foregoingl and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement oi elements doscribed, illustrated, and claimed, it being understood that modifications may be made within the scope oit the claims without departing 'from the spiritot' the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows the apparatus in side elevation; Figure 2 is a top plan view; Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section through the rails, the supporting,` means therefor being in elevation; Figure i is a similar view, with one ot the carriers in position; Figure 5 shows a carrier in top plan, and the broad trictional surface tor supporting a casket; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a hook for raising the ends oi the casket when the carriers are to be removed.

The track is to be supported in end standards and may be supported at the center on a lowering device, it the latter is used, or on a wooden strip placed transversely oi the grave. Each standard includes uprights or other suitable supporting,` devices such as 1() and 11, and a transverse member' 12 proisaa. serial no. 704,850.

vided with sockets 13 tor the reception of the rails. lli the element 12 is ot wood, the socket members will be separately formed and properly mounted. The sockets are shown having flared walls, the walls and narrow entrance portion providing` interlocking` engagement with the ends ol' the rails. l

rlhe rails each include a plurality of abutting1 sections 11i and 15, secured by plates or bars 16 retained by bolts 17 and nuts 18, one or both of these elements carrying,- thumb members. The track sections may be in six toot lengths, two sections being,` employed.

'lhe carriers each include a drop axle 20, each mounting; t'wo wheels having,- grooved rims for cooperation with the rails, and the cari" rs being' structurally independent of each other, so that they may be separated the required distance without the necessity ot manipulatinp,1 an adjusting device. Any length oit casket is thereby provided for.

Special means may be employed for raising the ends of the casket, one at a time, to permit the carriers to be removed when the casket is in position, and I have shown lll-shaped hooks 22 having` end members or bill portions 23, these elements being,` suitably proportio-ned tor the purpose .intended to be served. llVhen deposited on the lowering device, the casket is handled in the usual manner.

it will be understood that the rails are separated the distance required to permit the casket to pass therebetween, and that the standards are placed about as shown in the drawings. Emphasis is placed on the tact that no cumbersome apparatus is required, and that the devices described may readily be, transported by the funeral director in charge of the services, without depending1 upon equipment which would otherwise be lacking or would have to be supplied by the cemetery management.

ln one form l have shown carriers including drop axles formed with somewhat broad :tlat surfaces 24, which may be covered with a layer ot thick felt, leather, or other material, for direct contact with the bottom of the casket, and designed to prevent relativ@ movement between the casket and carriers as the latter travel on the tracks. If the pressure on the carriers is sufticient, this precaution is unnecessary, but when used it carriers movable on the rails, and rictional means secured to the carriers for preventing the displacement of a load held on the carriers by gravity.

2. A carrier of the class described, comprising a plurality of Wheels and a drop axle mounting the Wheels and including an upper fiat surface, and a sheet of flexible material mounted on said flat surface, and providing 20 increased rictional engagement When placed under pressure by a load to be supported by the axle.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOSEPH WILLIAM TSCHUMPERLIN. 

